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El Paso Electric needs dialogue on solar: Readers

El Paso Electric officials this week began selling small chunks of solar power to customers as an alternative to rooftop solar systems.
Victor Calzada / El Paso Times

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El Paso Electric in February asked state regulators to approve higher rates for most of the utility's West Texas customers after the power company substantially increased rates last year.(Photo: EL PASO TIMES FILE)Buy Photo

El Paso Electric needs dialogue on solar

El Paso Electric has again proposed that the solar residences of El Paso should have their own unique rate class.

Solar panels provide members of our city’s faith communities with the opportunity to respond faithfully to the call of our conscience to respect our natural home, by discarding old ways of consuming energy that damage our planet and its atmosphere, and promoting cleaner ways that tap into constantly renewable sources of energy, such as thermal, wind and solar energy.

My own faith community holds the teachings of our shepherd, Pope Francis, in high esteem, along with many other people outside of the Catholic Church, and his encyclical letter on our natural home published two years ago urges dialogue in the search for solutions to global warming and consumerist short-sightedness.

El Paso Electric’s decision to propose a steep rate increase on its customers, and create a special category of solar panel users for its own high rate, doesn’t come from dialogue with the community.

They seem to ignore or forget that they are a public utility, and the common good is a higher priority than profits that grow larger every year for a few beneficiaries. This rate increase proposal keeps many households of our diverse faith communities from living as they know their conscience dictates.

Rev. Robert MosherDowntown El Paso

Money is the real point of climate disagreement

The media clamor over the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord (“G-20 statement on Paris accord excludes Trump,” July 9 El Paso Times) is humorous.

The Trump administration “affirms its strong commitment to an approach that lowers emissions while supporting economic growth and improving energy security needs.”

It is doubtful that any nation’s “self-defined” emission goals will sacrifice national economic and energy needs.

The real sticking point is that the U.S. is withdrawing its commitment to provide billions of dollars for the climate fund that is part of the accord. The money is supposed to help poor nations claiming injury from climate change that is supposedly caused by the rich nations.

The old saying is “follow the money.” It’s a lot simpler than real climate research.

Andy SparkeCentral El Paso

Lack of student concern by the EPISD board

After looking over the summer offerings by the El Paso Independent School District, it was sadly apparent that the normal student enrichment class and camp offers had been seriously curtailed.

For the first time in the last three years, my daughter did not find a single enrichment course that was suited for her.

Yet, the Board of Trustees found enough dollars to be able to give $45,000 to our superintendent in the form of a raise. Just think, if the trustees had any concern for our students, this amount of money would have paid for 20 to 25 teachers to offer "enrichment courses" during the summer.

It’s easy to see the board’s priorities, and it's not students.

Claude HenschelUpper Valley

Promote interim Animal Services director

As usual, the city is throwing taxpayers money away.

Dr. Guy Johnsen, chair of the Animal Services Advisory Committee, and former Mayor Oscar Leeser think the interim director at Animal Services should be the director. Let’s spend the money on the Animal Services Department instead of looking elsewhere when the best fit is already there.

Mike SanchezEast Side

Thanks to bishop for column on immigration

Bishop Mark Seitz, I am grateful for your column in the July 9 El Paso Times, which had previously been published by Religion News Service.

The article referred to modern day Pharisees, and though no doubt there will be harsh critics, I and friends and family of mine share the sentiments outlined in your comments.

Those of us who consider ourselves "among the faithful" look to leadership from you and your brother bishops in Las Cruces, Juárez and beyond. Thank you.